Digital killed the serendipity star

How MP3s and streaming caused the death of accidental discovery in music.

Some people give up alcohol in January. I dreamt of decluttering and pledged allegiance to Marie Kondo. This year, that meant rifling through a box of CDs festering in the attic.

A pile of escapees floated reflectively if mournfully on the top. Further investigation revealed multiple cohabiting discs in…